Brewery & Distillery Equipment Financing | PCF
Brewery & Distillery Equipment Financing: How Craft Producers Fund Growth Without Draining Cash Flow
Craft breweries and distilleries run on equipment — fermenters, mash tuns, stills, canning and bottling lines, kegging systems, cold storage, and tasting room build-outs. Every one of those assets is expensive, and most of it needs to be replaced, expanded, or upgraded well before a business has the cash sitting around to pay for it outright.
That’s where brewery and distillery equipment financing comes in. Instead of tying up working capital in a single large purchase, producers can spread the cost of new or used equipment over monthly payments — keeping cash available for ingredients, labor, distribution, and the day-to-day realities of running a beverage business.
Why Beverage Producers Choose Equipment Financing Over Paying Cash
Brewing and distilling are capital-intensive from day one, and growth stages only raise the stakes. A taproom expansion, a move from batch to continuous production, or a jump in canning capacity can each require six figures of equipment investment. Financing that equipment instead of paying cash lets a business:
- Preserve working capital for grain, hops, barrels, packaging, and payroll — the recurring costs that keep production running
- Match payments to revenue as new equipment increases output and sales
- Avoid tying up a line of credit that might be needed for an unexpected opportunity or slow season
- Get equipment into production faster, since funding decisions move much quicker than a traditional bank loan
If you’re weighing whether to finance new or used equipment for your next expansion, our guide to new vs. used equipment financing breaks down the trade-offs in more detail.
What Equipment Qualifies for Brewery & Distillery Financing
Nearly any equipment used in production, packaging, or the tasting room can be financed, including:
- Brewhouse equipment — mash tuns, lauter tuns, brew kettles, and hot liquor tanks
- Fermentation and conditioning — fermenters, bright tanks, and glycol chilling systems
- Distilling equipment — pot stills, column stills, and mash cookers
- Packaging lines — canning lines, bottling lines, kegging systems, and labeling equipment
- Cold storage and refrigeration — walk-in coolers and cold rooms for finished product
- Tasting room and taproom build-out — draft systems, POS systems, furniture, and fixtures
- Barrels and aging equipment — for distillers and barrel-aged beer programs
Because canning and bottling equipment is one of the most common financing needs as producers scale, our packaging equipment financing page covers that category in more depth if a line upgrade is next on your list.
How Brewery & Distillery Equipment Financing Works
The process is similar to financing equipment in any other industry, but a few details matter more for beverage producers given the size and specialization of the equipment involved.
- Identify the equipment — new or used, from a manufacturer, dealer, or private seller
- Submit an application with basic business and financial information
- Receive a credit decision, often within 24–48 hours
- Choose your term and structure — most brewery and distillery equipment is financed over 24–84 months depending on the asset
- Get funded and put the equipment to work
Businesses that need extra time before their first payment — say, while a new tank is being installed or a taproom is under construction — can also use 60–90 day deferral programs to line payments up with when the equipment starts generating revenue.
Before applying, it’s often worth running the numbers with our equipment finance payment estimator to get a sense of what monthly payments might look like at different terms.
Startups and Newer Craft Producers
A lot of breweries and distilleries are young businesses without years of financial history — and that shouldn’t rule out financing. Providence Capital Funding works with businesses across the credit spectrum, including startups and companies that traditional banks have turned down. If you’re opening your first location or converting a nano-brewery into a production facility, financing can still be on the table even without a long track record.
Tax Advantages: Section 179 and Financed Equipment
One detail that surprises a lot of first-time equipment buyers: financing doesn’t disqualify equipment from Section 179 tax treatment. In many cases, a brewery or distillery can finance a fermenter, still, or canning line and still deduct the full purchase price in the year it’s placed into service, rather than depreciating it over several years.
That combination — getting equipment into production now, spreading the cost over time, and potentially deducting the full cost at tax time — is one of the more overlooked advantages of financing over paying cash. Our Section 179 explained for 2026 page and Section 179 benefits page go into more detail on how this works, though you should always confirm eligibility with your tax advisor before making a decision.
Ready to Finance Your Next Piece of Brewery or Distillery Equipment?
Whether you’re adding a second fermenter, upgrading to a canning line, or opening a new taproom, financing lets you get equipment into production without draining the cash your business needs to run day to day.
Apply for equipment financing today and get a decision in as little as 24 hours.
If you’d rather start with numbers before applying, you can also get a free equipment financing quote with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can startups and new breweries qualify for equipment financing? In many cases, yes. Approval depends on factors like time in business, revenue, and the type of equipment being financed. Startups without a long financial history can still qualify — see our overview of the industries that benefit most from equipment financing for more on how this works across different business stages.
Can I finance both new and used brewery equipment? Yes. Both new and used equipment can typically be financed, and both may qualify for Section 179 depending on how the equipment is purchased and placed into service.
How fast can I get approved for brewery or distillery equipment financing? Most applications receive a decision within 24–48 hours, and application-only financing is often available up to a set threshold with minimal documentation.
Are equipment vendors and manufacturers able to offer financing to their customers? Yes. Equipment vendors and manufacturers who sell to breweries and distilleries can join a preferred vendor program to offer financing directly to customers at the point of sale. Learn more about how this works on our vendor financing and customer loyalty page.
Does financed equipment still qualify for Section 179 deductions? In many cases, yes — financing doesn’t disqualify equipment from Section 179 treatment. Always consult your CPA or tax advisor about how it applies to your specific situation before applying.
Ready to get started? Apply now for brewery and distillery equipment financing and get a fast, no-obligation decision — or explore our full range of equipment financing programs to see what fits your business.
